Page 30

"Acquainted now, ladies?" asked Jordan as she moved behind me. "Clem, if it's okay, I'll cut Jag's first. She'll be quick."

"Of course," answered Clem, then began reading again as if nothing happened. As if we hadn't shared a solid ten minutes of conversation.

I turned properly in my chair as Jordan began to work on me. Silence fell around us, and I watched Jordan in the mirror. She tossed me a grin and I narrowed my eyes at her. She shrugged and patted my shoulder.

"Stay still," she said.

"I am still."

"Stay stiller."

I grumbled and it only made her snicker.

"Just a trim? No layering or anything fancy?"

"Just a trim." I watched as she separated my hair as always. "I already like the color and the one-sided undercut."

"The darker, shaved area and the berry-er length goes well. Like a black cherry. I'm down with it," Jordan said, as she worked her magic on my hair. "So…you two know each other, Clem?"

Clementine didn't answer.

"Clem."

Nothing.

"Clementine," called Jordan, a third time.

"From work," she answered, without looking up from her book.

"Ah. Just work? You two seem to know each other a bit more casually than that," Jordan continued.

I stayed quiet for the moment. Clem said nothing, appearing unmoved by the comment.

"Just work," I filled in. "We're sharing a case. Clementine helped us break open some new information."

"Ah." Jordan smiled at that while she snipped away at my hair. "I hope you both catch the perps."

"We will." I glanced at Clem and to my surprise, she met my gaze for a fraction of a second. "How's Ainsley?" I shifted the focus on purpose, hoping that Jordan would follow along. "Saw her at work recently, but not much else."

"She's good. She's off today, planning our first summer party of the season. I would be there helping if Cin and Frankie weren't behaving like assholes."

"Can't control the assholeism it seems," I said, glancing at Clem in the mirror. Still yet, she seemed to pay us no mind while reading.

"Guess not. I'd invite you, but you always say no." Jordan nodded in Clem's direction. "So does Clem."

"Parties aren't for me," she said, clearly having followed every train of the conversation around her.

"Me either," I added. "Too much drama. I went twice and all I did was deal with Frankie causing drama. So, I stay away."

"I know you feel responsible for her, Jags…"

"I do, but I shouldn't have to be. She should treat people better."

"She should, but it doesn't mean she will," said Jordan. "She had a hard life, so I get it."

"Having a hard life doesn't mean you can treat people like shit. I had a hard life, too." My jaw tightened with the statement. "Why does she get a free pass all the time from everyone?"

"Because underneath it, there's something more. Something better. If you give it a chance." Jordan squeezed my shoulder after she finished my trim. "You know that, or you wouldn't stick with her."